Packing removal

ABSTRACT

Prying packing rings out of a cavity by sequential use of an array of claw tools having a carrot shape and differently-curved tips.

United States Patent Mclnvale [151 3,650,164 [451 Mar. 21,1972

[54] PACKING REMOVAL [72] Inventor: George M. Mclnvale, 164 Little John Drive, Pascagoula, Miss. 39567 [22] Filed: Oct. 30, 1967 211 App]. No.: 678,868

US. Cl ..8l/8.l ..B25b 27/14 Field ofSearch ..81/8.1;294/26,6l; 29/278, 29/270, 235, 427; 30/1645, 366, 168; 145/24, 61,

121; D86/l.13; D3/20; 146/14 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 118,823 9/1871 Hiram et a1. ..294/26 X 863,390 8/1907 Harrington et al ..30/164.5 X 2,207,661 7/1940 Dugan ..81/8.1 2,466,845 4/1949 Ghee et a1.... ..81/8.1 3,029,503 4/1962 Meyer .t 29/278 X 3,149,514 9/1964 Shaub ..81/8 1 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 16,205 7/1903 Great Britain ..30/366 Primary ExaminerRobert C. Riordon Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT Prying packing rings out of a cavity by sequential use of an array of claw tools having a carrot shape and differentlycurvcd tips.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMARZI I972 FIG. 3

INVENTOR GEORGE M. McINVALE ATTORNEY PACKING REMOVAL This invention pertains to the removal of packing from stuffing boxes, valves, etc. It has been found that standard corkscrew-type packing pullers known to the art have a number of shortcomings; in particular, these tools are rarely of the proper size for a variety of, for example, pumps, the corkscrew types often being too weak to work on large packings and/or too large to work on small packings. Also, some packing pullers require dismantling of the pumps or valve to a greater extent than is warranted. As a result of these inconveniences, those who must remove packing from valves or stuffing boxes often resort to tools or other objects designed for other purposes, to the detriment both of the efiiciency of packing removal and also, often, of the further use of the tool in its designed purpose.

This invention provides a coordinated array of tools designed for packing removal and a method for removing packing rings using this set of tools. The array consists of at least two generally carrot-shaped claw tools, one of which has an elongated conical body and a slightly curved tip. The other tool or tools in the array will have-more or less the same carrot shape but the curvature of the tip will be greater or less than the first. Thus, one of the tools may have a straight tip and advantageously the tool set will comprise at least three carrotshaped claw tools having a straight, a slightly-curved, and a highly-curved tip respectively, the highly-curved tip perhaps almost defining a semi-circle. Tools having more complex curvatures may also be included in the array and often a tool having a reverse curvature will be desirable for inclusion.

The carrot shape is difficult to define in precise mathematical terms; however, ignoring the curvature of the tip, it is generally of the form of a right cone having an altitude at least twice the diameter of the base of the cone. This shape has been found to provide maximum strength in this type of tool for working on large packings. Advantageously, the altitude of the cone will be four to times the diameter of the base. Such dimensions provide a relatively sharp point for maximum effectiveness in getting between the packing ring and the wall of the packing cavity for prying out the rings even from small glands, etc. I prefer an altitude of the cone of about six to nine times the diameter of the base.

The method of this invention comprises removing packing rings one, two or more at a time from a packing gland or other cavity using the array of tools of this invention. Starting from the outermost packing ring, tools having progressively smaller radii of curvature are used. For the outermost ring or two, a tool having a tip with a radius of curvature of infinity, that is, a straight tip, may be used first. As removal of rings proceeds further into the stack of packing rings, the tools having progressively smaller radii of curvature are used. A tool having a reverse curvature may be used toward the end of the series of packing rings where the depth of the cavity requires this. As mentioned, the action with the tools comprises forcing the tip of the tool into contact with the packing ring, that is, forcing the tip into the ring itself or between the packing ring and the wall of the cavity, and prying out the ring or rings with the tip of the tool.

The usefulness of the tool set of my invention is improved, without adding unduly to the expense of the array or the space required for its storage, by providing a demountable handle to be used interchangeably with each of the tools. Also, my novel tool set may provide each of the claw tools in duplicate so that, when suitably coupled in tandem, a tool may be placed on each side of the packing to distribute the applied force to both sides of a packing ring, thus producing easier lifting.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 represents an array of claw tools according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the handle portion which can be used with the tool set and an adjustable tandem coupling which may be used with a double set of claw tools; and

FIG. 3 shows a stuffing box containing a stack of packing rings and one ofthe set of tools being used to pry out a ring.

In the drawing, an array of claw tools represented in general by the numeral 10, has the generally carrot-shaped claw tool 12, which, as can be seen, has an elongated conical body 14, with a slightly curved tip 16. Another member of the tool set may be the claw tool 18, which has a conical body 20 and a straight tip 22. The other member of the set may be the claw tool 25, which, as can be seen, once more has the conical body 27, and the more acutely curved tip 30, that is, the radius of curvature of the tip 30 is less than the radius of curvature of the tip 16 of claw tool 12. The tool set, according to this invention, may comprise three tools, such as 12, I8 and 25, having tips of varying curvature. Tools having grades of curvature between those shown may also be included in the set, as may also be angled claws such as 33 which may be highly useful in certain situations. 7

A demountable handle for use interchangeably with each of the tools in the array is indicated generally as 36 (see FIG. 2). This handle comprises essentially a straight metal shaft 39, having a thickness about the same as the base of the cone which defines the carrot shape. This shaft 39, generally will be provided with the T grip 42 toward its lower end, and with means for attachment to the tools. In the embodiment shown, the bottom end of the shaft 39, is provided with internal, female threading 43, for mating with male thread 44, at the top of the tools l2, 18, 25 and 33. The upper end of the handle 36, may be provided with the ball 48. As shown, this ball is demountable from the shaft 39, and is provided with internal threading 49, which mates with the externally threaded top end 50, of the shaft 39. Preferably, the threading 49, of the ball 48, is such as to mate also with the threads 44, on the claw tools so that when it is not desired to use the handle 36, the ball 48, may be fastened to the individual tool to be used to protect the hand of the operator.

When the tool set is to be used in duplicate to create a lifting force on both sides of the packing, an adjustable coupling, such as illustrated in FIG. 2 may be employed. This coupling consists of the rod or bar 55, which, as shown, may be threadedly connectable to the handle 36, by means of the projection 58, near, or preferably at, its midsection. Brackets 60 and 63 are designed to fit slidably around the rod or bar 55, one toward each end. As can be seen, these brackets are provided with means, such as wing nuts 66 and 68, for holding them in place on the rod or bar 55. Brackets 60 and 63, are provided with means for attachment to the fastening means 44 of the claw tools such as 12, 18, 25 and 33. Such means may be, for example, the internally threaded blocks 70 and 72.

FIG. 3 shows a typical packing gland arrangement for the shaft 75, of a pump 78. The pump generally may be provided with the bolts 80, which normally hold a compression ring (not shown), the compression ring, in turn, serving to hold the packing rings 82, 84, 86, 88, etc., in place. As shown in FIG. 3, the compression ring has been removed and a tool 18, according to this invention, has been inserted into the packing cavity 90, into contact with the outermost packing ring 82.

It will be noted that the tool having a tip with a greater radius of curvature is used first, for example, the straight tip with the infinite radius. As removal of rings proceeds further into the stack of packing rings, tools having progressively smaller radii of curvature are used. Sometimes the gland may be so deep that a progression back to the larger radii tools may be warranted after a certain depth is reached.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for removing packing rings from stuffing boxes and the like comprising a rigid elongated handle having an outer end provided with a palm engaging knob and having an inner end provided with a coupling means, finger engaging arms laterally projecting from the handle in diametrically opposite directions intermediate the ends of the handle and adapted to cooperate with the knob end in enabling the handle to be griped by the hand of a user, a tool bar having opposing ends and a central portion, a coupling means provided on the central portion for detachable locking engagement with the coupling means on the inner end of the handle so that the tool the coupling means on each tool body is removably secured.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the coupling means on the tool bar are mounted thereon for adjustment along the longitudinal axis of the tool bar and locking means is structurally associated with each said coupling means on the tool bar for locking it in adjusted position relative to the tool bar. 

1. A tool for removing packing rings from stuffing boxes and the like comprising a rigid elongated handle having an outer end provided with a palm engaging knob and having an inner end provided with a coupling means, finger engaging arms laterally projecting from the handle in diametrically opposite directions intermediate the ends of the handle and adapted to cooperate with the knob end in enabling the handle to be griped by the hand of a user, a tool bar having opposing ends and a central portion, a coupling means provided on the central portion for detachable locking engagement with the coupling means on the inner end of the handle so that the tool bar is fixedly disposed on the inner end of the handle transversely of the longitudinal axis of the handle, a pair of packing ring penetrating and griping tools, each of said tools having a rigid tapered frustoconical body provided with a major end and a reduced minor end, each minor end terminating in a slightly outwardly and downwardly curved tip and each major end having an axially disposed coupling means and coupling means on the tool bar on opposite sides of the handle to which the coupling means on each tool body is removably secured.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the coupling means on the tool bar are mounted thereon for adjustment along the longitudinal axis of the tool bar and locking means is structurally associated with each said coupling means on the tool bar for locking it in adjusted position relative to the tool bar. 